Au Kam San
This week lawmakers were introduced to the government’s draft of the region’s first five-year plan. They slammed the document, saying that it includes inadequate content and shows a lack of direction, particularly in the gaming and social welfare sectors.
Ng Kuok Cheong said that the government should take advantage of its mid-term review of the gaming sector to introduce improvements such as measures to curb imported labor, stressing the importance of citizens’ welfare.
“We are currently facing an issue of confusing transportation and we indeed need an efficient public transportation system. The government should address those omissions,” said the lawmaker, cited by TDM.
Au Kam San described the draft as a “déjà vu”, as the chief executive has previously made similar policy addresses, but has so far not succeeded in executing any of them.
Lawmakers also criticized the draft for failing to address issues such as the meat and fresh produce prices, minimum employment wages and, above all, the public housing concerns and policies.
Two years ago, over 40,000 residents competed for 1,900 public housing units. As a result, grassroots associations and several lawmakers have been urging the government to build at least 40,000 new housing units to cater for those unsuccessful applicants.
While some also praised the government’s effort, legislator Ella Lei worried whether the plan will be implemented in a timely manner.
“The deadline for the measures featured in the plan is 2020. The problem is that the government’s performance rate has so far been very low in many of the measures already in place,” she commented. Staff reporter
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